The Today Show
recently did a segment titled: “Why does my jaw hurt? 4 odd symptoms women over
40 shouldn’t ignore.” Obviously we believe anyone with jaw pain should visit
the dentist, regardless of their age. But it is interesting that the article
was directed to women over 40. Even if you are in excellent health and take
good care of yourself, you are still getting older and certain risk factors
increase with age.
What should I do when I first
experience jaw pain?
If the area is sore, it is possible you aggravated or
sprained a muscle or ligament associated with the TMJ (temporomandibular
joint). And like most acute injuries, your jaw requires rest and
anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Alieve). It would
also be helpful to rest the muscles by avoiding gum and chewy foods for a few
days. If the symptoms do not subside within a week or two, then you should come
in for a more thorough exam.
What if I have jaw pain and
tooth pain at the same time?
If both the teeth
and jaw hurt at the same time, it is possible the problem could be related to
the jaw or an individual tooth. You can sometimes experience referred pain
because the nerves to the teeth are closely related to the nerves of the TMJ. Your
first option would still be rest and anti-inflammatory medication. But if it is
more than a day or two, I would recommend coming in for an exam to help
determine what the cause could be.
What is the most serious
concern if you are experiencing jaw pain?
Jaw pain can be associated with heart attacks, but it is
more frequent in women than in men. I don’t recommend going to the emergency
room any time you experience jaw pain, but you need to be aware of all of the
symptoms and your risk factors. So if you are experiencing jaw pain with some
of the more traditional heart attack symptoms, it would be a good idea to call
your doctor or 911 if serious enough.
For more information, visit www.dentistwestchester.com.
Lee T. Brown, DDS
Brown and Kupper, DDS Inc.
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